Newspaper Page Text
Page 4 - Friday, March 10, 2023
The Jenkins County Times
thej enkinsc ountytimes. com
JCTimes 3-10-23.indd 4
3/9/2023 10:00:24 AM
By Joe Brady, Editor
for
The Times
As most of you know, I ain’t all that good at technology. Everyone laughs at my
rolodex. Y’all, I don’t have just one, I have two! One for Millen and one for Sylvania.
My adopted son can’t stand it! But then he’s shocked at my latest discovery of
Spotify. Did y’all know about Spotify? Anyway, just when did rolodexes go out
of style? Did the Amazon order department laugh when they saw my order come
through.
But let me share with you why I don’t trust technology. The other day as a way
of cleaning out my phone of needless numbers, pictures, you know the stuff that
accumulates, I wound up deleting half my phone book. OMG right? All day long I
was sending texts, is this really you? Who are you?
That can be embarrassing to say the least. Finally, I got tired of asking so I quit. I
shouldn’t have. A very dear friend of mine sent Sam and I the same text, “love the
new paper! Keep up the great work!” Who was this person? Obviously I knew her,
well, maybe I don’t I thought.
I replied, “oh, I’m like the drug pusher, just getting you hooked on it and then I’ll
ask you to buy the next fix.” I forgot all about the conversation until Sam followed up
much later, “just ignore Joe. He was joking.” What? Who was the mystery sender?
Sam walked into my office, “why would you tell Diane that?” Oh no, I explained
I didn’t know that was her. Luckily I explained my mistake. That is until my phone
sent her what I was saying to Debbie on the phone. My sweet friend Diane responded,
“Joe, are you having a bad day?”
Um, you better believe it! Since when did my phone start sending texts based on
what I said? Where is a rotary phone when you need one? That’s all for now, take
care!
Letters to the editor of The Jenkins County Times are welcomed and encouraged. These are pages of opinion,
yours and ours. Letters to the editor voice the opinions of the newspaper’s readers. The Jenkins County Times
reserves the right to edit any and all portions of a letter. Unsigned letters will not be published. Letters must
include the signature, address and phone number of the writer to allow our staff to authenticate its origin. Letters
should be limited to 400 words and should be typewritten and double-spaced or neatly printed by hand. Deadline
for letters to the editor is noon on Wednesday. Email Letters to the Editor to: thejenkinscountytimes@gmail.com
Jimmie O. Edenfield
By Debbie Hearn
for
The Times
Jimmie Edenfield was more than willing to sit down
with me Friday evening. I enjoyed finding out just a
fraction about the life of Mr. Jimmie.
His parents Addie Myram Grubbs and William Henry
Edenfield were married in 1925 in Metter, Candler
County, GA. Jimmie was bom August 15, 1933, the
youngest of four children. He had 2 sisters and 1 brother.
His family lived in Metter until he was 12 years old when
they moved to Millen, Jenkins County, GA. He began
attending church at West Millen Baptist where he was
saved at the age of 14.
In 1945 he said he was about a mile out of town fishing
and his mother sent someone to tell him he had to come
home because the president (Roosevelt) had died. His brother was in the military serving in
Italy and it was a scary time. “We didn’t know if we would ever see him again.”
After settling in Millen, his father opened a grocery store on what was known as Lord’s
Corner or Lloyd’s Corner (Hwy 25 & Hwy 17). First person he remembers meeting after
moving to Millen was Evelyn Gunn (Young). Her father had a sawmill and workers would
stand outside the store waiting to go to work. The grocery stayed at that location until it
moved on Cotton Street in 1952. In 1955 the store moved to its final location on Hwy 25
where the Spring Creek Auction is today and stayed until it closed in 1980. Jimmie said he
delivered groceries on his bicycle with a big basket on it. “Walmart thinks they invented
grocery delivery,” he quipped.
Jimmie married Betty Jean Durden in 1952. Betty and Jimmie had two daughters, Vikki
Edenfield Womack and husband Ronnie, and Kim Edenfield Boatright and her husband
Robert. He has four grandchildren and 13 great grandchildren.
In November of 1952 he joined the Air Force and after training in Wyoming he was
assigned to Alexandria Air Force Base in Louisiana. His father let him drive his 1951
Crown Victoria knowing they’d be safe in it for the long drive from Georgia to Louisiana.
After Louisiana he was stationed at RAF Sculthorpe near Norfolk, England. After he was
discharged and came back home to Millen, he sold insurance for about a year then started
working at the store with his mom and two sisters until the store closed. He then sold
insurance for Crowe Fields Insurance Agency then moved on to Ogeechee Valley Bank in
1984 until he retired in the late 90’s.
Since he retired at an early age, he played a lot of golf and mowed grass for his sisters.
When Mr. Robert Fields became ill, he started helping them at Crowe Fields Funeral Home
with services and visitation and continued there until two years ago when he became ill
himself.
Mr. Jimmie has been a member of the Millen Lions Club for over 50 years, a member of
the 8 o’clock Coffee Club, a member of the Boch Sunday School at Millen Baptist Church,
and a charter member of Magnolia Country Club.
Q. What is the most important invention in your lifetime?
A. Well, it was invented before I was bom but the most important invention, I think, is
electricity. I can remember when we first got it while we were living in Metter.
Just off
the
Paved
Road
Carmen Bennett
Columnist
The Times
“Memories of Flying Saucers”
This past week we experienced a rare occurrence. Most of you know how spoiled rotten
I am. We live on the same farm as my parents and my in laws. My mama cooks for us
most nights and we all eat supper together. But one-night last week, my mama declared
the night, “every man for himself’. I was trying to think of what to have for supper. Addie
wanted fried bologna. I was trying to think of a way to “fancy up” fried bologna and I
suddenly remembered
Ms. Frances Adams in
my elementary school
lunchroom.
Do y’all remember in
elementary school when
the lunchroom ladies
would serve “flying
saucers”? Fried bologna,
covered in a heap of
mashed potatoes, covered
in melty cheese? I know
growing up in Hart
County, we had them at
Airline Elementary! I
made them this past week
and a flood of memories
rushed back. Funny the
things you remember
about school. Chances
are you don’t remember any specific things your teachers taught you, but I’d be willing
to bet you remember how each teacher made you feel. I know that is true because one of
the fondest memories I have from elementary school is from a lunch lady who fed me at
school the day after my grandfather died and told me there was no finer man to ever walk
this earth than my grandpa, Jud Cole.
I was so little, I could barely see over the lunch counter, but I remember it. I remember
my 2nd grade teacher who brought me clothes the day after my house burned down
on Christmas Eve (I can still describe the stitching of the sweater in detail). I have no
traumatic memories of that house fire. In fact, my only memory is of Mrs. Gay Martorell
bringing me that shirt and sweater. The same holds true for coaches, pastors, parents, and
anyone else who holds influence over children. These are tough times. It’s hard to be a kid
these days. So, keep that in mind before you try to teach them how to catch a ball, how
to solve an equation or how to tell a turkey oak from a post oak. Trust me. I know. Fried
bologna reminded me of that tonight.
Meet our New Realtors
14
Amy Cowart
Licensed Realtor
Buying or selling?
Call us today!
(478)249-3111
Brooke Black
Licensed Realtor
Realty & Properties ^
155 North Gray Street - Millen, Georgia 30442
#381775
Q. What is the difference between your childhood and children now?
A. We made our own fun and invented toys. No tv or phones to keep us inside. We played
outside from daylight until dark when school was out. Today, you never see kids outside
playing. Technology has ruined things.
Q. What are your parting words of wisdom?
A. I would like to tell young people if their mother, father, grandmother, or grandfather are
still living, find time to visit with them. Don’t wait for them to be on their deathbed to visit.
Enjoy them while they are alive and can share memories. Always find time for your family.
lJenkins County Times
Proudly covering Jenkins County’s news, sports, and community events
Sam Eades Publisher
Joe Brady Editor
Sam Eades Advertising Sales
Debbie Hearn Admin/Layout and Design Executive
Sarah Saxon Admin/Legals/AP Correspondent
Brad Asbury Sports Editor
Jake Gay Reporter
Tyler Busch Podcast Director
THE JENKINS COUNTY TIMES
issue 2 March 2023 is published weekly by on Wednesday
for $35 per year by THE JENKINS COUNTY TIMES,
425 Hwy 25 S • Millen, Ga. 30442. Periodical
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